Remarks by the Prime Minister on the conferment of Cumhuriyet Nishan by President Abdullah Gul

September 17, 2013

His Excellency Mr. Abdullah Gul, President of the Republic of Turkey,

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed a great honour for me to have been bestowed with the “Jumhuriyet Nishan” by Your Excellency.

As a recipient of Turkey’s highest state decoration, I am deeply touched by the exalted recognition granted for my humble contribution to furthering our fraternal relations, a calling close to my heart.

At the same time, it is renewal of an abiding commitment, to work continuously and untiringly, towards exploring new vistas for cooperation between our two countries.

Excellency,

The significance of this graceful ceremony goes beyond its symbolism. It is a testimony to the special and unique nature of our relationship that thrives in the hearts of our two peoples, from the heights of the Himalayas to the plains of Anatolia.

This relationship is, however, as much a narrative of the past and the present as it is a promise of a great future for two democracies, with a common outlook and shared perceptions.

I believe that through the holding of the 3rd Meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC), we are taking concrete steps towards that end. I am confident that the wide-ranging initiatives that will come under discussion later this evening will lay the foundations for a dynamic and future oriented discourse to our strategic relations.

In You, Excellency President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan, we have sincere brothers and partners, who are committed with equal zeal, to the promotion of Pakistan-Turkey relations.

I look forward to working closely with the Turkish leadership in the days ahead, for the collective good of our two countries and taking our relationship to great heights.